All across the U.S., organizations like the Heartland Institute are sending out ambassadors armed with pro-fossil fuel propaganda to influence your local lawmakers. America Ferrera travels to Kansas to learn about how farmers are benefitting from wind power, but one man is standing in their way.

Introduction

Renewable energy, once considered too expensive to deploy on a large scale, is making major inroads in the United States. To traditional energy producers, the shift to cleaner energy sources such as wind and solar represents a threat to their interests in the market. Through a network of well-funded political organizations, fossil fuel interests are battling to shut down renewable energy standards in the states.

In Against the Wind, Correspondent America Ferrera profiles prominent climate skeptic James Taylor of the Heartland Institute as he crusades against clean energy, and investigates the battle over the future of renewable energy in the US.

SHOOT LOCATIONS:

Meet The Characters

What [wind turbines] represent: the ability to generate electricity without putting carbon in the air. That’s always been central point for me you know we’re going to run out of oil or coal, we want a hard landing or a soft landing. And I think moving to renewables provides a soft landing for us.

Pete Ferrell Kansas Rancher and Renewable Energy Supporter

There are hundreds upon hundreds of peer reviewed studies that show that humans are not causing – that global warming is not causing extreme weather events. Don’t let anybody tell you differently.

The climate change denial movement didn’t happen by accident. We take you inside a secret meeting where powerful interests plan to make the biggest issue of our time one that politicians are afraid to talk about.

America Ferrera behind the scenes for Against the Wind.

America Ferrera behind the scenes for Against the Wind.

America Ferrera conducting an interview with Heartland Institute James Taylor at a restaurant in NYC

The Science Behind The Story

Wind farms in Kansas provide enough energy to power over 870,000 American homes.

Drought

Pray for Rain

In 2013, Cargill, the largest privately-held company in the U.S., closed down its huge meat-packing plant in Plainview, TX. Don Cheadle visits Plainview and finds that most people blame the drought on the will of God or say it’s part of a natural cycle.

Drought

Pray for Rain

In 2013, Cargill, the largest privately-held company in the U.S., closed down its huge meat-packing plant in Plainview, TX. Don Cheadle visits Plainview and finds that most people blame the drought on the will of God or say it’s part of a natural cycle.